Results tagged ‘ Corey Patterson ’

As expected, Orioles centerfielder Adam Jones was not in the starting lineup and unavailable for Friday’s series opener against the Rays.

Jones received a cortisone injection in his left shoulder prior to Thursday’s 6-4 loss to the Red Sox and his timetable remains “open-ended” according to manager Buck Showalter, who didn’t rule out the possibility of the team recalling another position player for depth.

“Most of the people that would fit are non-roster” said Showalter who cited infielder Scott Moore -making his first start in Triple-A after being sidelined with a lung issue – as a possibility. “But it’s not something we couldn’t get around if there was a real vibrant need for a player.”

The Orioles could designate pitchers Franka Mata or Armando Gabino to clear a spot on their 40-man roster if needed, although Moore’s callup isn’t imminent. Having utility infielder Robert Andino also gives Showalter some flexibility for now, and what the team does going forward will be determined by how Jones responds to the injection in the next day or two.

The Orioles were helped by the return of outfielder Corey Patterson to Friday’s lineup. Patterson, who played center field in place of Jones, has been bothered by a sore neck suffered from a pair of recent collisions with the wall and wasn’t available to swing on Thursday. But Patterson was deemed a full-go after some early batting cage work on Friday afternoon and didn’t expect any lingering issues.

*Brian Matusz was named AL Rookie of the Month for August. In six August starts, Matusz went 4-1 with a 2.43 ERA (37.0IP, 10ER).

*Adam Jones and Corey Patterson are not in the starting lineup and both outfielders are pretty banged up. Jones has been dealing with upper back soreness and left last night’s game prior to taking his scheduled at-bat in the seventh, while Patterson has been getting treatment on his neck and shoulder area after crashing into the wall in Chicago and again in Anaheim. Manager Buck Showalter will try to stay away from both of them, with Nolan Reimold getting an outfield start. While Patterson said he could maybe pinch run, Jones is a little more beat up and may be out for another day or two.

*Double-A Bowie outfielder Xavier Avery was added to the Arizona Fall League roster and will join the O’s Scottsdale team.

*Oh, and Jake Arrieta shaved his mustache, which I know is a big deal around here. He also lost a bet with catcher Matt Wieters that he’d keep it til the end of the year and had to fork over some money to him this afternoon.

*Corey Patterson (bruised heel) is available to play tonight off the bench.*Juan Samuel said Josh Bell hasn’t been playing much because Miguel Tejada was brought here to play third base. (Or perhaps they are trying to shop him and want him to play as much as possible.)*The Orioles roster situation is going to get a lot crazier later this week. You can read about today’s moves here. Besides Bell, I can’t think of a front runner roster casualty. The team could go about 10 different ways and it will be interesting to see what Andy MacPhail does…*On the move to send Chris Tillman to Norfolk…I’m not sure about this one. While Tillman is inconsistent he has proven to be dominant at Triple-A. It’s the easy choice to get Millwood back in the rotation, but sooner or later it’s going to mess with these young kids heads to keep sending guys like Brad Bergesen and Tillman back-and-forth. Not sure I agree with this move or how the young pitchers are being handled. As a key part of the O’s future, they have to tread carefully.*Tillman will likely start Saturday in Norfolk.

*Josh Bell is in the starting lineup today in what will likely be his last game for the O’s. Luke Scott is expected to be activated tomorrow, and Bell is the obvious choice to go in his place.

*Corey Patterson was a late scratch from today’s game with a bruised left heel suffered while trying to beat out a bunt in the fourth inning. Felix Pie is playing instead and Patterson said it won’t be more than a day or two, max. The team may do an X-ray later today on his heel just to make sure.

*Matt Wieters (right hamstring strain) is feeling much better and said that he will be ready to come off the DL as soon as he is eligible. Wieters spent the All-Star break coming in for treatment every morning and is now just getting back into running and other baseball-related activities to test his hammy.

*Kevin Millwood is looking like he will be ready when eligible off the DL as well. Millwood has thrown a side and a bullpen with no pain and pitching coach Rick Kranitz said the team would evaluate Millwood following Sunday’s ‘pen. Millwood can come off the shelf on Wednesday and interim manager Juan Samuel said the team has not talked about going to a six-man rotation. It’s not looking like a favorable option because Samuel doesn’t like to keep “backing guys up”, so someone will have to go. Brad Bergesen is Wednesday’s starter.

In a game as multi-faceted as Tuesday’s extra-innings win, things are always bound to get lost in the shuffle. Here are some of the leftover quotes from three big players of the game: Kevin Millwood, Luke Scott and Corey Patterson.

KEVIN MILLWOOD[on how he felt on the hill]“[My] stuff was good, felt like I located the ball well, my four seamer was cutting a little bit, my two-seamer was sinking, when I threw my breaking pitches early, I did what I wanted to do. Stuff definitely wasn’t a problem all day.”

[on facing Greinke] “You just want to stay in there as long as you can. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to give up any more runs [after the fifth]. And I was able to do that.

The guys were able to battle. Luke hit a couple big homers, corey hit a big home run. And we came out with a win.”

[on Luke’s two homers] “When Luke gets locked in he’s one of the best hitters in the game, it doesn’t matter who’s pitching to him, he’s going to hit the ball long and hard. And that’s kind of where he’s at right now. And it’s fun to watch a guy like that.”

[on still not getting the win]“It’s a win for the team and that’s what matters, as long as it’s a win for our team.”

LUKE SCOTT[on the win]“Total team effort is what it was. Greinke was tough, he had very good stuff today – good slider, good changeup and his fastball had a lot of life, a lot of late movement. He did a good job for his team. You got to credit Kevin Millwood for sticking in there. He had that one inning where they were able to scrape a few runs through, but he battled and kept us in the ballgame and that’s what you want out of your ace.”

[on facing Greinke] “It’s very difficult. If I was them, I’d want to be in that situation – you think you’re sitting pretty good [with a 3-0 lead] and they were.”

[on being in the zone]“Everything’s just kind of calm and peaceful for me up at the plate. There’s no traffic in my mind, there’s no confusion. There’s no stress or pressure. I’m just up there relaxing. Like I said before, I bring God into everything and I just go up there and pray and try to take him with me in all that I do. I’m enjoying my time with him.”

[on the Corey Patterson effect] “He’s given us a great lift. It goes to show how he’s really helped our team, but at the same time it’s another thing that shows you how much we miss Brian [Roberts] at the top of the order. Having a good leadoff man that gets on with some speed that puts some pressure on the defense and put pressure on the opposing pitcher, it’s very helpful.”

COREY PATTERSON[On making Greinke work in 6th:] “I was able, in that at-bat, to get his pitch count up. After the at-bat, it was a little frustrating because I took some close pitches and it was 3-2 and I swung at a ball that was up and out of the zone. For a while there, I was kind of beating myself up, but I took it as a positive: I didn’t get the result I wanted, but that’s one of the best pitchers in the game. You have to foul some balls off, get the count to 3-2, work him a little bit. You know what? That was a good at-bat. I took that into my next at-bat and was able to get the homer rather than dwelling on swinging on 3-2 at a pitch that was well outside.”

[more on Greinke] “There’s no doubt the game’s mental, more than anything, and you got to find a way to keep the same approach no matter who’s on the mound, whether it’s Zach Greinke, a No. 4 or 5 starter or whoever. You go in there with the attitude that’s Zach Greinke, you’re not making things any easier. You already know he’s a good pitcher, so don’t help him out. Just stay with your approach.”

[on Millwood] “You can’t tell with him how he’s doing, whether he’s having a good outing or a bad outing. I thought he pitched well tonight, to tell you the truth. For me looking at him, he has the same focus, his game plan. I don’t know what he’s thinking, but you know what you’re going to get every day from him. He’s going to be focused, going to give you the best he has.”

With Rhyne Hughes‘ demotion back to Triple-A Norfolk, Orioles manager Dave Trembley confirmed that the Garrett Atkins will be the team’s first baseman for the next few days. But how much longer beyond that?

“I’ll sleep on it,” Trembley said following Atkins’ 0-for-4 showing in Sunday’s loss. “And we’ll see where we’re at.”

Things could get interesting given that Nolan Reimold started at first base for Norfolk on Sunday afternoon. Reimold has struggled offensively this season — prompting the demotion — but if he can get back on track he could get a shot at first base.

At one point last year that appeared to be the Orioles plan, but Reimold spent this spring solely in the outfield. He did take ground balls at first base in the final days of camp, but reporters were told to not read too much into it.

Given the spark Corey Patterson has given the O’s in left field, putting Reimold at first base isn’t such a crazy idea. Especially when you factor in the under-performing Atkins, who entered Sunday hitting .253 and is homer-less this year. Atkins struck out swinging, grounded into a double play and had two other ground outs against Indians starter Jake Westbrook to drop his average to .243.

Reimold went hitless in his first two games with the Tides, but connected for a two-run homer for in his third at-bat on Sunday.

Well, since he’s replacing B-Rob at the top of the lineup the nickname etiquette should be the same, no?

Jokes aside, Corey Patterson has provided a nice spark in his first 24 hours in an Orioles uniform. Several of the reporters were joking with him about the pressure for an encore. “[It’s been] a little bit whirlwind, but it’s all worth it,” Patterson said on Thursday.

“I’m glad to come in, help these guys win some games. It’s not just going to be one person. It’s still going to be a total team effort. What we’ve got to do is just pick each other up like we did today.”Making his second straight start in left field on Thursday, Patterson gunned out Josh Wilson on an inning-ending outfield assist to home plate and led off the eighth inning with a solo homer. The speedy outfielder also doubled in the sixth and has provided a much-needed speed threat for the Roberts-less O’s.

“He’s a guy that has pop [at the plate],” catcher Matt Wieters said. “But he’s also a fast guy like you saw [on Thursday]. And with B-Rob out he’s a guy that can get on, steal bases for us, get in scoring position. And even in the outfield he gives us more range where he can get to some balls and he can get some outs for us.”

Patterson singled in his second-at bat on Wednesday, his first hit after having his contract purchased from Triple-A Norfolk prior to the game.

“I told him [Wednesday] night when he got here, I said ‘You will be the leadoff guy, you got the green light, bunt, steal make some things happen for us,'” manager Dave Trembley said. “I think you will see him pick it up.”

The Orioles have a Major League-worst nine steals in their first 35 games, two of which came from Roberts. Given how the O’s offense has struggled, to say having a speed threat like Patterson atop the lineup is a welcome change would be a vast understatement.

“When you hit into 38 double plays it’s refreshing to have somebody who can [steal],” Trembley said. “We’re not the lone ranger in that department if you look at Major League baseball and the lack of speed, quickness. It’s nice to have those guys.”

True, Baltimore isn’t the only team struggling to establish a run game. But to put their nine steals in perspective, there are nine players are in the double-digits in stolen bases. (As of about 7 p.m. ET Thursday evening, that is.). Nine guys have more steals individually than the Orioles combined.

In the midst of the most prolonged slump of his five-year Major League career, Luke Scott admits he has had many sleepless nights wondering what he’s doing wrong. Following a 4-for-8 series against Seattle, in which he hit a solo homer Wednesday night and a decisive grand slam Thursday afternoon, I asked Scott how he’s feeling now.

“I’ve been feeling better,” Scott said following the Orioles’ 6-5 win. “Last night I had a nice, although it was short, I had good sleep.”

“Moments like this, it kind of makes you feel like you can breathe again.”

I asked a few of the other Orioles what it was like when Scott hit that grand slam. Starter Kevin Millwood was inside icing, but still heard the place erupt in cheers.

So did the rest of the O’s as Corey Patterson admitted he was on his feet watching in nervous anticipation to see if Scott’s ball would avoid left fielder Michael Saunders’ glove.

“[I] saw Saunders going back and I didn’t know because it was on the edge [of the wall] and once it went into his glove and went out, we all went crazy with high fives,” Patterson said.

“We were all excited. That was a great at-bat by him. We were all really, really happy. “

“It’s just big,” Matt Wieters said of Scott’s blast. “Especially from him, if we can get him going it would really help this team. To get a big hit and be able to come from behind and win a game is big for the confidence going forward.”

“Everyone was pumped up,” Scott said of the mood upon his return to the dugout. “It was exciting, guys were pumped up. They were cheering, a lot of energy, a lot of emotion.”

“He’s a tough guy,” manager Dave Trembley said of Scott. “He prepares himself like no other in the off-season. He loves to hit.”

The ball narrowly made it as a homer, with the cold, heavy air halting what would have normally been an easy outside-the-parker.

“To tell you the truth, I thought I had it,” Saunders said. “Guys were telling me that when I hit the wall I kind of didn’t have an idea why I didn’t’ catch the ball. A fan with a glove hit my glove away and beat me to the baseball. I had a bead on it, but when I jumped up and hit the wall, I came down empty handed. I at least thought I would be able to touch it. I don’t think I did. I think the fan beat me to it.”

The play wasn’t reviewed, although for a second Scott wasn’t sure what happened because Ty Wigginton stopped around second base.

“Coming up on both of them I saw [Adam Jones] coming back and I had my fist up and was like ‘Yeahhhh.’ And then I was like, ‘Whoa dude, is my mind playing tricks on me or something?” Scott said when he saw the runners stop. “But nope, I just hope it’s real.”

It’s not official yet, but speedy outfielder Corey Patterson was informed last night of his call up from Norfolk and is expected to join the Orioles today. This isn’t big news — it’s been speculated for a few days now — but I got it confirmed early this morning. No word on when he will be activated and added to the O’s roster.

I’d expect this would cost Lou Montanez his spot. Nolan Reimold is also a (less likely) candidate to be optioned to Triple-A.

The Orioles will look to take three of four games this afternoon in the series finale against the Twins.

*The big pregame news was that of Jim Johnson, who was placed on the disabled list in Norfolk late last night and has been diagnosed with a strained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He will see Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion sometime this week, but the hope is he will be able to avoid surgery. *With the Orioles slumping bats and outfielder Corey Patterson tearing up Triple-A, manager Dave Trembley hinted that there could be further roster movement for Tuesday’s homestand. Could Lou Montanez’s days be numbered? We’ll see.*Lastly it’s Mother’s Day, so call your mom, hug your wife. Spread the love. The Orioles, like every Major League Baseball team, will hit with pink bats today to help raise breast cancer awareness. Slumping Nolan Reimold joked if he gets a hit he’s going to hit with the pink bat again Tuesday. I’ll have a full story on MLB’s efforts up post game.

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